Camillus Children Enjoy New Swing Set, Climbers and Slides
Camillus children are now enjoying new play structures at the renovated Reed Webster Park Playground. Saturday, members of the community joined Camillus Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan, Town Councilor Kathy MacRae, and Honeywell for a ribbon cutting ceremony and the unveiling of the new playground equipment.
 Hunter Davis checks out the new playground equipment at Reed Webster Park. |
 Community member Leslie Petty, Parks and Recreation Director Eric Bacon and Councilwoman Kathy MacRae join Camillus Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan and Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe as they cut a ribbon to celebrate the newly installed playground equipment at Reed Webster Park. |
 Megan Petty, Michael Assaf, Sarah Morrell, Emily Morrell and Julie Assaf on the new playground equipment at Reed Webster Park. |
Representatives from the Camillus Department of Parks and Recreation and Stonehedge Brownie Troop 281 joined in the celebration. The reopening marked the conclusion of a three-month planning process that included input from the community and the Honeywell donation for new playground equipment including a swing set, climbers and slides for two – to – five - year olds.
“The Town of Camillus is very grateful for the help and partnership Honeywell provided throughout the restoration of Reed Webster Park Playground,” said Camillus Town Supervisor Coogan. “The playground has needed various renovations for a long time and we were able to complete this work with Honeywell’s help.”
Julie Assaf (left) and Sarah Bacon (right) swing and play on new climbers at Reed Webster Park Playground.
“Honeywell is proud to partner with the Town of Camillus on the recent renovations at Reed Webster Park Playground,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “The passion and enthusiasm the town and community brought to this project were contagious. We have been looking forward to this day since we first started working with the town and the community on plans for this renovation.”
A beautification day at Reed Webster Park was held May 18. During the event, community members helped repaint the bathrooms, pavilions and picnic tables in preparation for Saturday’s grand reopening. Local students also participated in a T-shirt design contest. Commemorative T-shirts with the students’ designs were handed out at Saturday’s event.
“The playground rehabilitation process allowed the community to get reconnected to the park and its assets,” said Coogan. “It is exciting to see our community come together for the greater good of our town. The enthusiasm for the continued development of Reed Webster Park is encouraging. The town will continue to look at ways we can incorporate the community suggestions into our future plans.”
Town of Camillus Councilwoman Kathy MacRae worked closely with the community, the town and Honeywell during the Reed Webster Park Playground restoration. “The partnership between Honeywell and the Town of Camillus is a great example of people coming together,” said MacRae. “I have been very impressed with the cooperation of everyone involved in this project. Honeywell’s generous donation has enhanced the Reed Webster Park community and Saturday’s event was a great celebration of the teamwork, commitment and collaboration evident in during this project.” Town of Camillus Parks and Recreation Director Eric Bacon also played a central role in this partnership.
 Jessica Pototskey pushes friend Isabella Makarchull on the new swing set at Reed Webster Park. |
 Camillus neighborhood kids play on the new playground equipment at Reed Webster Park. |
 Members of the Stonehedge Brownie Troop 281 lead community members in the Pledge of Allegiance at the grand reopening of Reed Webster Park. The Camillus Police Department Color Guard presented the flag at the event. |
 Lauren Petty sports a Reed Webster Park Playground restoration T-shirt. The shirts, which were given out at the event, featured designs by eight local students and had a “working together” theme. |
The playground renovation initially began in early 2007 when the neighbors of Reed Webster Park approached the Town of Camillus to request new equipment. Honoring this request, the Town Board allocated $10,000 for an initial restoration. This included one new jungle gym with two slides. Honeywell’s partnership allowed the town to complete the playground project. Honeywell owns the property and leases the park to the town for a nominal fee.
 Community members, representatives of Honeywell and the Town of Camillus celebrate the new playground equipment at Reed Webster Park Saturday. |
 Honeywell’s generous contribution to new equipment for the Reed Webster Park Playground completed the Town of Camillus’ playground restoration started last year. |
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.
